Winter sports vehicle



Feb. 12, 1957 H. A. ROBISON WINTER SPORTS VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1953 INVENTOR. 152mm; 4. faa/m/v, BY

Iva/swim.

H. A. ROBISON 2,781,200

4 WINTER SPORTS VEHICLE Feb. 12, 1957 Filed March 50, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. A am v 4. flag/mm United States Patent WINTER SPORTS VEHICLE Howard A. Rohison, Long Beach, Calif.

Application March 39, 1953, Serial No. 345,347

2 Claims. (Cl. 280-1159) The present invention relates to the field of vehicles, and more particularly to an amusement-type winter sports vehicle on which a person wearing skis may travel over a snow-covered surface in a seated position.

In recent years the popularity of winter sports has increased to a marked extent in the United States, and as a result, a demand has been created for new devices to provide thrills not found with the use of conventional skis, toboggans, and ice skates.

The primary purpose in devising my present invention is to provide an amusement device in the form of a vehicle adapted to be used equally well by both experienced skiers and tobogganers, as well as those who are merely novices at winter sports. It will be obvious that the experienced skier will be most proficient from the very first trial of my invention, but each type of sportsman will be assured of new thrills and pleasure by the use thereof.

A major object of my invention is to furnish a vehicle of simplified mechanical structure embodying a saddle on which a person is supported in a straddling position, and when so mounted thereon, may glide over a snow-covered downgrade.

Another object of my invention is to provide a snow sports vehicle of single runner construction, with the vehicle caused to be maintained in a stable upright position by use of skis worn by the operator thereof in a rudder-like fashion.

A further object of my invention is to supply an amusement type vehicle that may be controlled by the operator thereof at all times and is adapted to be braked to a stop by means of skis worn by the operator.

Another object of my invention is to furnish a winter sports vehicle that is easily adjustable to various sizes, thus rendering it ideally suited for individual use or as an amusement device which may be rented to the general public.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide. a novel device whereby the winter sports enthusiast may coast down-slope with safety, and on steep downgrades that the most skilled of skiers would negotiate with difiiculty without mishap.

A still further object of my invention is'to provide alight-weight winter sports vehicle adapted for easy return to the crest of a grade, by means of a particular form of'climbing ski most suited for this purpose.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a novel sports. vehicle that may be fabricated from standard commercially available material, does not require extensive plant facilities for its production, and may be sold in the medium priced merchandising field.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, and from 'the drawings illustrating that form in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevational view-of my winter sports vehicle; 7 r

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device;

ice

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of one of the climbing skis used in conjunction with my invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of said ski;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hinge connec tion between the vehicle runner and the saddle-supporting frame;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a novel climbing element provided on my ski; and

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of my vehicle showing the saddle-supporting frame tilted rearwardly, with the skis being used for braking purposes.

Referring now to the drawings for the general arrangement of my invention, in Figures 1, 2 and 7'it will be seen that it includes an elongate runner R that pivotally supports an upwardly and forwardly extending tubular frame F. Frame F serves as a support for an intermediately disposed saddle S and has a U-shaped handle H mounted on the outer extremity thereof. In operation,

the user U (shown in phantom line) wearing short climbing skis C, straddles the seat or saddle S whereby the skis are normally disposed on opposite sides of runner R.

The runner R is preferably fabricated from an elongate strip 10 of wood such as hickory that is bent or otherwise formed into a forwardly disposed upwardly extending curved portion 11 as is typical in ski construction. To prevent lateral slippage of the runner R when gliding over hard-packed snow or snow having an icy surface, the lower surface of the runner is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending ridge or groove (not shown).

Frame F is pivotally supported from the upper surface of runner R by a hinge construction 13, the details of which may best be seen in Figure 5. Hinge 13 includes a rectangularly shaped metal plate 1 rigidly afiixed to the upper surface or runner R by screws 15. Plate 14 has two parallel, laterally separated side walls 16 extending upwardly therefrom. A transversely disposed bore 17 is formed in each side wall 16 through which a horizontally disposed pin 18 extends. Threads 19 are formed on the ends of pin 18 which are engaged by nuts 26, which nuts serve to removably maintain pin 18 in a horizontal position between side walls 16. A tubular sleeve 21 disposed between side walls 16 is rotatably supported on pin 18.

Frame F is preferably formed fro man upwardly and forwardly extending curved tubular member 22, which member has two oppositely disposed transverse bores 23 formed in the lower side wall portions thereof.- The sleeve 21 extends through bores 23, with the sleeve and tubular member 22 being connected to one another at their contacting surfaces by conventional means. Should it be desired, the tubular member 22 may pivot directly on pin 18, and be maintained in the desired lateral position between side walls 16 by .the use of spacers. The particular construction employed is merely a matter of choice.

In Figure 1 it will be seen that tubular saddle post 1 well 24 extends upwardly from an intermediately disposed position on the tubular member 22, and is in communication with the interior of tubular member 22. The

saddle postwell 24 is of such diameter that it slidably engages a portion of the saddle post 25. Saddle post 25 is slidably disposed within the confines of the post well 24..

The saddlepost is adjustably held in the desired vertical.

position relative to the post well 24 by a conventional bifurcated clamp 27a of the type used in maintaining bicycle saddle posts at the desired elevation. 7

1 The saddles is preferably of the type employed on bicycles, and as is common therewith includes a triangularly shaped seat portion 2.8 secured to the upper portion of the saddle post 25. Clamp 27a includes a bolt 30.

which when tightened, causes the clamp to grip the saddle post with sufficient force to support saddle S in the desired' position. 7

Handle H,- as may bestbe seen in Figure 2, is formed from a generally -U-shaped tubularmember 49 having a centrally disposed portion 49a. Handle bar'portion 48a "develops into rearwardlyextending members 40b at the outer extremities thereof, eachof which has a bicycle hand grip 41 mounted thereon. A curved tubular member 42 extends rearwardly from substantially the midpoint of handle H of such diameter as to be siidably 'rnovable within the confines of the outer portion of tubular member 22. It will be particularly noted in-Figure 1 that member 42 has the sameradius of curvature as tubular member 22. Thus, the handle H, is longitudinally movable relative saddle S, but cannot rotate in a plane normal to frame F. A clamp 43 of the same general type as clamp 27ais so mounted on tubular member 22 as to adjustably support handle'H in the desired position rela- 1 tive thereto.

It will be particularly noted in Figure l-that the vertical axisof the saddle .postwell 24 is'disposed forwardly of the axis of the pin 18, with the result that when a user U is mounted on saddles, the frame F tends to pivot forwardly in a clockwise direction, Frame F may also pivot rearwardly in'a counterclockwise direction when a person is disposedoni the saddle S. To prevent rearward pivoting of the frame F beyond a predetermined point, a curved resilient stop 44 is affixed to the lower portion of the tubular member 22. When the frame F is positioned "as shown in Figure l, the lower ends 45 and 45a of the resilient stop 44 are disposed above the upper surface of the runner R, but as the frame member F tilts rearwardly,

second plate 58 merely drags over the surface, of the snow and does not obstruct the movement of the skis C in any manner. However, when a person wearing the skis C is walking uphill, and the skis tend to slide rearwardly, the resistance of the lower portion of plate 53 which digs ure 6. Openings 59, or a series of openings may be used if desired, permit the snow to squeeze outwardly from the position between the interior surface of the plateSS and the rearward vertical edge of the runner when the plate is subjected to counter clockwise movement.

The operation of my invention is extremely simple; The handlebar H and the saddle S are adjusted to a position comfortable for the person mounted on the device. Before. mounting 'my invention the user U places the skis C on his feet securely by means of the ski bindings 52."

The vehicle is then taken to the crest of a downhill slope. When properly mounted on the vehicle as shown in Figure l, the user may easily balance himselfdue to the three-point support afforded by the runner Rand skis C. During a glide if the user desires to turn to either the right or left, he need only to lean in the desiredrdirection and simultaneously move'the position of the' skis C- 7 relative to one another to effect the turn, as is common in the lower end 45 contacts the upper surface of the runner to prevent further movement of the member. 22. Forward movement'of the frame F is likewise limited by the end 45a of the stop when it contacts the upper surface of the runner. The position of a person when mounted on my invention may best be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 7. It will be evident from these figur es that when a user U is mounted on my invention he may balance himself by using his skis C to contact the snow-covered surface, whereby they serve in the manner of stabilizing rudders. Thus, a user U is supported in a stable, vertical position, as is the vehicle itself, by the three-sided support afforded by the runner R andthe two skis C. V

The detailed structure of the skis C are best seen in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. 'Each ski includes a short runner Ell-having a curved upwardly extending forward end 51 a serve not only to balance the mend my invention when traveling ever a snow-covered surface, but as an aid in climbing upwardly to the top ofan incline after'sliding downwardly thereon. Tofacilitate the easy transportation of my invention from ,the'b'ottom" to the top of'an portion of each ski, the structural details of'whichare best seen in Figure 6. r The climbing hinge 53. includes a first plate 54 affixed to-the rearward upper surfaceof thep1ate;58 The plate 58 is somewhat longer'in'length than the'thickness of the rearward portion of -the runner 50 (seeFigure 3), and'p'rojectsdownwardlybelowthe lower surface of the'runner-when the second plate'is in T an abutting' position. 7

Thus, when 'the skis C are moving forwardly, the;

' than as defined'in the appended-claims.

skiing. j It will be noted that the center 'of gravity of frame F. is forwardly of pin 18, whereby the frame tends to pivot forwardly and downwardly when a user is riding thereon. However, this tendency of the frame to pivot forwardly and downwardly is resisted by the user when he exerts downward force on the skis C. 7 Accordingly,

the skis C are always in firm contact with the snowy surface 'over which the vehicle is traveling and a maxi mum maneuverability of the vehicle is achieved by varying the position of the skis relative to one another. In the event the vehicle accumulates a more rapid speed than desired, the usermay easily'and simply brake the vehicle by leaning backwardly in the saddle to transfer his center of gravity rearwardly. beyondthe pin.18. The

7 frame Fwill then pivot rearwardly, but with the degree of 'this'rearward movement being restricted .by the resilv ientstop 44' when it comes into contact with theupper surface of runner 'R. At the same time the user starts to move rearwardly, the skis C are moved into an upwardly and'forwardly, tilted position, bringing the sharp rearward'transverse edge portion 60 of therunners 5-0 into contact with the snow surface. When the rearward portions of the skis are so disposed, theydig' into the snow'and serve as a brake to slowdown the speed of the'vehicle, asmay be seen inFigure 7.

'Although the snow vehicle herein shown and'described- Y a is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing 60 aincline,'I provide a'climbing hinge 53 on the rearward end the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be under stood that'it is.merely illustrative of th'e preferred embodiment 'of'my invention, and that I do'not mean to limit myself tojthe details Lherein shown and described other t m: .7 1'. A vehicle on' which a person may travel in' a seated position which'includes:anelongate runner formedwith 7. an upwardly. curved forward end portion; a'hing'e plate, 7 afiixed tothe upper surface of isaid runner; a first'upr w wardlyiandforwardly extending curved tubular member,

- the lower end portion of which ispivo'tally-connected to said hinge plate; a bicycle-type saddle provided with a clamp; an L-shaped saddle post formed with a first and asecond' legwith said saddle being clamped to said first. leg; a saddle post well,extending'upwardly from said curved member disposed forwardly from the position at which said tubular member is connected to said hinge plate, with said well adapted to slidably receive said second leg of said saddle post; a clamp capable of maintaining said saddle post at the desired elevation relative to said tubular member; a second curved tubular member slidably mounted in the forwardly extending portion of said first tubular member; a transveresly disposed U- shaped handle mounted on the outer end of said second tubular member; and a clamp which when tightened maintains said first and second tubular members in the desired relationship relative to one another.

2. A winter sports vehicle for use by a person wearing a pair of short skis on his feet, comprising: an elongated runner formed with an upwardly curved forward end portion; a forwardly and upwardly extending support member; means pivotally attaching the lower end of said support member to the intermediate portion of said runner; stop means limiting rearward pivoting of said support member relative to said runner; a seat secured to the intermediate portion of said support member; and a handlebar secured to the upper portion of said support memher, said support member and said seat being so located relative to said runner that said person may sit on said seat straddling said runner with the latter supporting substantially all of his Weight while he uses said short skis for maintaining equilibrium and for braking, said person leaning backwardly during a braking operation so as to transfer his center of gravity rearwardly of the lower end of said support member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 158,452 Gill May 9, 1950 D. 168,741 Gianotti Feb. 3, 1953 603,289 Ryder May 3, 1898 1,159,643 Bossenberger Nov. 9, 1915 1,462,889 Slater July 24, 1923 1,585,160 Lowell et a1 May 18, 1926 2,027,388 Larkin Jan. 14, 1936 2,148,644 Riefschnider Feb. 28, 1939 2,151,533 Schwinn Mar. 21, 1939 2,159,130 Burgett May 23, 1939 2,360,629 Varner Oct. 17, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 311,858 Germany May 2, 1939 134,396 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1929 

